Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-11-18
"REMINISCENCES OF PUBLIC MEN.
BY BEN: pERLEY pooRE.

Prince Albert, when he attended a
ball given at the Masonic Temple here
in his honor BY Sir Edward Thornton,
on the night of January 27, 1870, was
slender young man, attired in fatigue
uniform. This consisted of dark
blue, or nearly black. tight-fitting sack
coat, closely fitting the form, double
breasted, and buttoned to the throat,
trimmed with heavy black braid and
frogs, pantaloons tightly cut, of the
same color, with broad braid stripe
on the sides, and patent-leather boots.
Across his breast he wore brilliant
star studded with jewels. A miniature
cartridge box was slung across his
shoulder, and in his hand he carried q
little cap, closely resembling that worn
by the Union soldiery during the Re-
bellion. He also wore q plain steel
sheathed sword. He was very unos-
tentatious in his appearance, and
presented q marked contrast to the
brilliant uniforms and elaborate display
of gold lace and embroidery by which
he was surrounded, as worn by the for
eign ministers and secretaries of lega-
lions.
He opened the ball with Mrs. Grant,
who wore crimson velvet dress, with
a long train, low neck and short sleeves,
trimmed with white satin and point
lace. He also danced with Mrs. Thorn
ton, the wife of the British Minister,
who wore low-necked dress of white
silk, with long train, and an overskirt
of light blue silk, trimmed with white
x,Nsr< r
Strange, of the British Legation, a
charming brunette, who was dressed
in white muslin trimmed with white
satin.
It was said the next day that some of
the young army officers took him after
the ball to see the sights of "Washing-
ton by gaslight."
Charles Sumner first visited Wash
ington early in 1884, and was in at
tendance at the Federal metropolis for
month. The names of some of those
who then figured in debates at the
Capitol have come down to US as having
filled important places in our public
history. The impassioned, fascinating
eloquence of Clay, the close reasoning
OF Calhoun, the ponderous arguments
of Webster, the melliauous sentences
of Preston, and the profound mental
powers of Silas Wright made strong
impression upon the young law
student. But he was not favorably i'm
pressed by what he saw of political
life. Writing to his father lust prior to
his departure for Boston, he said ::
Calhoun has given notice to-day that
he will speak tomorrow on Mr.. Web
ster's bank bill. shall probably hear
him, and he will be the last man
shall ever hear speak in Washington.
I probably shall never come here
again. I have little or no desire to
come again in any capacity. Nothing
that have seen of politics has made
me look upon them with any feeling
other than loathing. The more 1 see
of them the more [ love law, which,
feel, will give me an honorable liveli-
hood"
One of the first duels fought at
Washington was the result of an angry
discussion in the House of Representa-
tives between Mr.. Gardiner, dashing
young Federalist of the Hamilton
school, and Mr.. Campbell, q Demo.
crat. A challenge ensued, and the
only magistrate at the National Capital
at that time was Samuel Harrison
Smith. then the young editor of the
National l11telligencer. He was called
on to arrest the belligerents, and he
promptly repaired to the boarding
house, kept by three kind-hearted old
maids, the Misses Finegan, where Gar
diner messed. The mess received MI.
Smith very politely, and some of the
members told him that they would,
with great pleasure, give bail for the
peaceful conduct of Gardiner within
the limits of the district. Mr.. Smith,
however, insisted that he must bind
Gardiner over to keep the peace within
the United States. They said they
would convince him that his jurisdic-
ton did not extend beyond the District
of Columbia; and of all earthly things
the learned and long argument was
most to Mr.. Smiths taste. He went
for his authorities, and, bringing in his
books, prepared for set-to in good
earnest. Mr.. Bayard, of Delaware,
undertook to reason Mr.. Smith out Of
his premises, and spoke at great
length. Meanwhile Mr. Gardiner and
his second slipped out, took carriage,
Went to the designated ground, fought
the duel, in which Mr.. Gardiner was
wounded, and returned to the house,
where they found Messrs. Bayard and
Smith still busily engaged in the case.
MIR. Smith acknowledged that he had
been foiled, and paid for bowl of
punch.
Richard Halves, lawyer of very
handsome talents, made his appearance
in the House OF Representative as a
Representative from kentucky at the
opening of the extra session of 1887,
and remained silent member until
the month of June, 1888. AS the
session was rapidly drawing to close,
Mr.. Halves, who possessed all the
modesty that belongs to genius, real
lied much embarrassment with refer
ence to speech which he wished to
deliver for the purpose of having some
thing to send under his frank to his
constituents.
Day after day, and week after week,
he delayed speaking, out of sheer diff
dence. At last, however, he made ND
his mind to speak, and by courtesy Of